A 52-year-old St. Vincent man accused of slitting his wife’s throat in front of their two children during an altercation at their Greenland apartment on Saturday night appeared at the Magistrates’ Court Monday afternoon to face a charge of murder.

Lennox Franklyn Da Silva told police after his arrest that a “feeling came over his body” while he was fighting with his spouse, Sherika Nelson Da Silva, and the next thing he remembered was cutting her throat with a knife and seeing blood, alleged Director of Public Prosecutions Kim Hollis.

Police received a call for assistance from the defendant’s neighbours at 8:31 p.m., and when they arrived at the apartment Mr. Da Silva was attempting to flee the scene, but his neighbours prevented him from leaving, according to the Crown.

The victim, a 29-year-old Jamaican, was found lying on the floor in the home with a knife wound on her neck, Ms. Hollis said.

The prosecutor added that an 11-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl witnessed the murder.

Mr. Da Silva was arrested and stated during a police interview that he started fighting with his wife because she was packing her suitcase to leave him, claimed the Crown. 

The defendant, who was shot in Jamaica in 2014, said he lost control when his wife implied she wished he had been killed in the attack, Ms. Hollis explained.

The defendant also admitted to police that he had been following his wife because he suspected she was having an affair, according to the prosecutor.

The defendant appeared calm at court and apologised to Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards for his actions.

“I’m very sorry,” he said.

Mr. Da Silva, who is on remand, was scheduled to return to court for his paper committal on July 12.

He told the court he is seeking the legal assistance of defence attorney Patrick Thompson.